Roofing machine



p 10,1 c; J. PENN 2.37323 ROOFING MACHINE Filed Feb. 4, 1944 2 Shets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

/0a CLYDE JT FE/Y/v BY Qr W v April 10, 1945 c. J; FENN ROOFING MACHINE 2' Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 4, 1944 4 1.1V. lllrlllllllllllll 2 INVENTOR.

CLYDE J. F zlv flTTO/ENEYJ Patented Apr. 10, 1945 UNITED ST TES PATENT OFFICE Application February 4; No. 521,(l50

5 '4 Claims.

This invention relates to equipment to be used in the laying of roofing material, and it has reference more particularly to equipment for the laying of flexible, rolled roofing materials of various kinds, known in trade as felt roofing" or "built up roofing," laid in plies on a roof and requiring that the material be laid fiat and pref-- erably pressed firmly into a thinly spread layer of fluid asphalt, or other suitable binder, to insure proper adherence.

' Explanatory to the objects, uses and advantimes of this present invention, it will here be stated that for many years, flexible roofing has been used in building operations and has been laid in thinly applied coatings of melted asphalt, .tar, or other liquid binder oi suitable kind. However, to my knowledge, it has always been the case that the areas to be covered by the strip material are first cleared of foreign matter, such as dust, sand, gravel or the like, then a proper coat of the melted asphalt, tar or other material is applied to the cleaned surface, and finally a ply of the selected roofing material rolled out,

placed or laid in the asphalt and pressed down into place. Successive strips of such roofing material are likewise laid in place and rolled down.

and there are various ways in which different operators apply the strips of material when it is required that they be laid in overlapping courses. But at best, it has always been a tedious task to apply the asphalt, then draw out the strip of roofing material from a roll, place the strip in position in the asphalt and follow this with a final rolling down or pressing down of the strip to insure that itwill properly adhere. to the cov- 'ered area.

When roofing strips of this character are laid in lapped courses, it is also required that they be measured and marked to insure accuracy of the overlap. This measuring and lapping of strips requires additional time and usually additional help in the operation.

In view of the foregoing, and for other reasons, it has been the principal object of this invention to provide apparatus or equipment of relatively inexpensive type and design whereby to expedite and facilitate the laying of rolled, strip roofing of various kinds. Furthermore, to provide an apparatus that makes the ,operation of laying strip roofing in asphalt easily handled by one person when such is necessary or desired.

Another object is to provide an equipment for the above purposes wherein the roll of strip roof- I a roller for pressing the strip material into the ing is mounted in a manner that it operates as roll.

More specifically stated, it has been the object of this invention to provide equipment or apparatus for the above stated purposes which is of "carriage-like character in that it is adapted to phalt, and means for controlling the applicationof this asphalt to the surface immediately prior to placing the strip thereon, which is accomplished as the carriage is pushed across the surface. Also, to provide apparatus wherein provision is made for mounting the roll of roofing material in rolling contact with the prepared surface and in such'manner and position that, as the carriage is advanced and the hot asphalt is applied to the surface, the strip ofroofing will be laid down direct from the roll and pressed into the asphalt covered surface under the weight of the equipment, the roll and whatever additional pressure may be applied by the operator through the handles with which the carriage is equipped.

Another object of the present invention is to provide means in connection with the carriage whereby the lapping of successively laid strips of roofing may be accurately gauged as the carriage is advanced, thus eliminating the usual and heretofore required measuring and marking prior to placing each strip in position to insure a deflnite overlap.

Still other objects of the invention reside in the details of construction of the various parts of the device, in their combination, and in their mode of use as will hereinafter be fully described.

In accomplishing the foregoing and other objects of the invention, I have provided the improved details of construction, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus for laying strip roofing embodied by the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, sectional detail of a part of the asphalt container, showing the dispensing slots, the control or valve plate and the plate ad- Justingrod.

Fig. 3 is a detail of the rod adjusting crank and support.

asphalt coincident with its being drawn from the ings'as provided for gauging the lap of an applied strip. A

Referring more in detail to the drawings- In its present preferred form of construction, the roofing equipment of the present invention comprises a container ill preferably constructed of sheet metal, and designed for holding an adequate supply of hot. melted asphalt or other fluid material of suitable or selected character of the nature of that usually used in the laying of strip roofing as a binder whereby to secure it to the protected surface, and the plies to each other.

As herein shown, the container III has a trans verse width that is substantially equal to the standardized width of the strip of roofing material that is to be laid, and of a depth and front to back length required to hold approximately ten to fifteen gallons of asphalt. However, the size and dimensions of the container may be changed as desired orrequired for any particular use. I

The front wall Illa of the container preferably is substantially vertical andthe back wall lob is sloped downwardly and forwardly to join with the angularly turned lower edge portion lllc of the front wall at about a 90 angle. Formed in the back wall, adjacent its fiuncture with the front wall, are a succession of vertically directed slots l2 from which the asphalt may be discharged from the container onto the prepared surface, such as designated at 5 in Figs. 1 and 4. It is preferred that these slots be about oneeighth inch wide and one inch lon and that they be spaced approximately one-half inch apart. This, however, is a matter of what might be required under certain or different conditions.

Underlying the slotted portion of the wall is a flat valve plate I5 and this is held slidably and flatly against the slotted wall by means of a plurality of guide straps I8 that have ends thereof afilxed to the container walls as is best shown in Figs, 2 and 3; the 'straps being so arranged as to hold the plate tightly in place as required for preventing leakage when in closed position. The valve plate is permitted a limited movement as required for the covering and uncovering of the slots to control the outflow of asphalt from the container. Means is provided as presently will be described for adjusting this plate and for holding it in various positions of adjustment to control the flow of asphalt onto the surface.

The container I is supported by a carriage fram for rolling over the area to be roofed. This frame is preferably made up of iron pipe sections of a suitable diameter and required lengths. It comprises the opposite longitudinal side members 20-20 of substantial length and horizontally directed, and in parallel, spaced relationship for mounting the container l0 between them.

Clamping straps, or brackets 2| are applied to the cppcsite side walls of the container adjacent its lower end and these are fitted about the longitudinal pipes 20-20 for the rigid support of the container. At their forward ends, the side members 20-20 of the carriage frame are equipped each with a T-fitting 24, and a cross axle 25' is applied through these fittings, and, at its ends, the axle isequipped with supporting wheels 28-26.

At their rearward ends, the side members are likewise equipped with .T fittings 28-28 and it is between these fittings that a roll of the roofing material to be laid is mounted; such a roll of roofing material being designated by reference character R, in Figs. 1 and 4, and it is mounted mars es so that it will rotate on a. cross axle or rod 22 that is extended through and between the fittings 22-28 at opposite sides of the frame.

Fixed to the longitudinal members 20-22 of 5 the frame, at opposite sides of the container, are paired, upwardly and rearwardly inclined pipes 22-22 Joined at their upper ends by a horizontal cross pipe 22. These parts serve as a handle whereby the carriage, a's supported by the wheels 28-28 and the roll R of roofing material may be pushed along the surface to which the roofing is to be applied.

Fixed centrally to the cross pipe 22 is a tubular bearing 24 through which a rod 2! is threaded. At its lower end, the rod 25 has a swivel connection, as at 26, with a downturned flange 21 at the vertex portion of a wishbone shaped bracket 28 which, at its ends, is fixed to the opposite end portions of the valve plate It.

the rod is equipped with a crank portion 42 to facilitate rotation of the rod, thereby to move it upwardly or downwardly by reason of its threaded connection with the bearing 34, thus to adjust the valve plate l5 from a position overlying the slotted area of the bottom wall to a position to uncover the slots for the outflow of asphalt from the container onto the surface to be roofed.-

A feature of this construction resides in the fact that the cross axle 25 at the front of the carriage is longer than the distance between the supporting bearings by a predetermined amount and may be adjusted in an endwise direction in its supports. Thus, with the wheels 26-26 fixed against movement along the axle, it will be understood that by endwise adjustment of the axle,

v either wheel may be set as a gauge for the overlap of the plies of roofing. For example, by reference to Fig. 1, it will be understood that with the axle adjusted to that wheel 26 at the righthand side of the operator is outset from the line of the edge of the strip of roofing being laid, and if this wheel is caused to follow along the floor-responding edgeof the next previously laid strip of material, the strip then being laid down from the roll will be evenly and accurately laid with reference to the overlap.

Since the front axle 25 may be adjusted in its supports to either side of the carriage, the strips may be laid in travel of the carriage across an area in either direction; that is, after passing in one direction across a roof, adjustment of the axle from one side of the carriage to the other may be made and the next strip laid down on travel of the carriage inthe opposite direction. Thus, in this way, avoiding the necessity of always passing in the same direction across the roof. In order that the gauging wheel 26 may be set and retained at a position for any designated overlap of plies, the axle is provided with a. succession of holes 50 therethrough at spaced intervals; for example, they may be one or two inches apart, and one or both of the T fittings 24-24 may be provided with holes 5| to register'with those of the axle to receive a pin or key 52 to hold the axle at any set position of adjustment. It will be understood that in the laying of a roofing strip from a roll, the roll will gradually diminish in diameter. However, regardless of this, pressure may be applied downwardly through the, roll to cause the material, as it is 1| laid down, to be pressed firmly into the asphalt.

At its upper end, beyond the threaded fitting,

Q'I'he asphalt may be controlled in its delivery as required by the accurate setting of the valve plate It so that the coating will be of a predetermined thickness and will form a wave Just ahead of the point of contact of the roll of material with the roof surface as at a: in Fig. 4, thus to insure even and complete spreading of the material on the surface.

When one roll of material has been used up, it is only necessary that the mounting rod 28 be removed, a new roll placed inposition, and the mounting 'rod again applied. Care should be taken that the roll is soplaced that the material will u be laid down therefrom as the roll advances and pressed by the weight of the roll into the asphalt. It is not of importance insofar as this invention is concerned, what the roofing material. is, whether it be paper, felt Mother-composition; the gist of this invention residing in the provision of the parts in combination, as has been described, to make the operation a one-man job.

Devices'of this character might be made in various sizes and the frame constructionyor car-.

rlage. as well as other details, might be changed,

from that herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit or the invention. For that reason, it is not desired that the claims terminating the application be restricted to details, but that they shall be given an interpretation commensurate with the scope of the invention disclosed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- -1. A vehicle for the laying of rolled strip roofing material. comprising a carriage adapted to be moved across'a surface on which the material is to be laid, said carriage comprising a frame having supporting wheels at one end and an axle across its other end for mounting a roll of roofing material thereon as a rolling support for that end of the carriage in its travel across the said surface and in a manner whereby the strip material will be laid from the roll onto the surface as the carriage is advanced, a container for a roofing liquid ,mounted on the carriage. in a manner whereby its weight is sustained in part by the axle as supported by the rolled material and means for controlling flow of liquid from the container onto the surface iii-advance of the roll as the carriage is advanced.

2. A. vehicle for laying rolled strip roofing material; comprising a carriage adapted to be moved across a surface on which the material is to be laid, means for mounting a roll of roofing material in the carriage as a rolling support therefor in its travel across the said surface and in a manner whereby the strip material will be laid directly from the'roll onto the surface as the roll advances and under the weight of the roll and carriage as sustained thereby, a container supported by the carriage for a liquid roofing material, means for gravity dispensing of liquid from the container onto the surface in advance of the roll and means for controlling the dispensing of the liquid; said carriage being equipped with handles extended to the rear of the rolled material for manual propulsion and guidance of the carriage in its travel and through which downward pressure against the roll may be increased or decreased.

3. A vehicle for the laying of rolled strip roofing material comprising a carriage adapted to be moved across a surface on which the material is to I be laid, and having opposite longitudinal side members, an axle extended between the said members at their forward ends, wheels mounted on the axle for support of that'end of the carriage, means for mounting a roll of roofing material between the said members 'at their rearward ends as a rolling support therefor, and in a manner that the strip of material will be laid directly therefrom onto the surface and under weight of the roll and carriage as sustained thereby as the carriage i advanced, a container supported by and between the said side members of the carriage in advance of the roll, and having openings therein for gravity discharge of liquid onto thelsurface across the width of the roll, a valve member for control of flow through the openings, and means for adjusting the valve 40 rial is to be laid; said carriage having coextensive longitudinal opposite side members, means at the rear ends of the members for mounting a roll of strip roofing material between them as a rolling support for the carriage and whereby the strip will be laid therefrom onto the surface as ther carriage advances and under weight of the roll and carriage as sustained thereby, a cross axle mounted by the side members of the frame at their forward ends and having wheels mounted thereon at its ends; said axle being longitudinally shiftable in its mountings to dispose the wheels at different positions laterally of the line of travel of the carriage, means for retaining a position of adjustment of the axle, a liquid container supported by the carriage and means for controlling fiow of liquid therefrom onto the surface 

